Many Chelsea fans consider that there a number of unanswered questions about the proposed move away from Stamford Bridge and are mobilising to ensure that any decision has been fully thought through and is in the best long-term interests of the club.
Various fan groups such as the Chelsea Supporters Club, the Chelsea Supporters Group and CFC UK are planning a meeting for Monday to organise their tactics before the vote of Chelsea Pitch Owners PLC (CPO) shareholders on October 27th.
Many Chelsea fans consider that there a number of unanswered questions about the proposed move away from Stamford Bridge and are mobilising to ensure that any decision has been fully thought through and is in the best long-term interests of the club.
Various fan groups such as the Chelsea Supporters Club, the Chelsea Supporters Group and CFC UK are planning a meeting for Monday to organise their tactics before the vote of Chelsea Pitch Owners PLC (CPO) shareholders on October 27th.
CPO was set up by fans in consultation with the then chairman Ken Bates to ward off the threat of predatory property developments when Chelsea ran into financial problems in the mid-1990s. Now the club wants to buy back the land under Stamford Bridge and concern is being expressed that supporters are being asked to give up the protection they secured too lightly and hastily. The meeting to approve the move is to be held in three weeks’ time at 11.30 a.m. in the morning after an away Carling Cup tie to Everton which many CPO shareholders expect to attend.
It is not that fans think that alternatives to Stamford Bridge should not be explored. They can see that a bigger stadium would strengthen the club in the long term. However, they want to ensure that all alternatives at the Bridge have been fully explored. For example, could they knock down some of the hotels and restaurants and make the Shed End better? They are also concerned about a lack of consultation and worried about what would happen if Roman Abramovich decided to sell up.
As we noted yesterday, many CPO shareholders may have died or moved away since 1993/4. Their numbers are also unlikely to include younger shareholders who are therefore effectively disenfranchised.